2004:1869 - KILADREENAN (Site 18), Wicklow
County: Wicklow
Site name: KILADREENAN (Site 18)
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A
Licence number: 02E0735 ext.
Author: Patricia Lynch, Co. Dublin, for Archaeological Development Services Ltd.
Author/Organisation Address: 27 Hilltown Way, Swords
Site type: Excavation - miscellaneous
Period/Dating: Prehistoric (12700 BC-AD 400)
ITM: E 727414m, N 704881m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.079325, -6.098255
An excavation was carried out between June and July 2003 in advance of the construction of a slip road in connection with the N11 road improvement scheme between Newtownmountkennedy and Ballynabarney, Co. Wicklow. Monitoring of the topsoil-stripping had been carried out by Damian Finn from September 2002 (Excavations 2003, No. 2087, 02E0268 ext.). This identified several areas with archaeological potential. These features were adjacent to Site 18, which was excavated by Angus Stephenson (Excavations 2002, No. 1970, 02E0735). This site contained a ring-ditch, numerous pits that contained prehistoric pottery, flint and burnt bone. Site 18 extended to the limits of the CPO line.
Following the excavation of a borrow pit (no. 11) in the adjacent field, a narrow striped ridge measuring 70m by 7m remained between the borrow pit and the COP line. It is on this ridge that the features were revealed during recent topsoil-stripping. The features, which appear to be a continuation of those excavated at Site 18, include a ditch, post-holes and pits. Works in the adjacent field for Borrow Pit 11 conducted by Sinéad Phelan (Excavations 2002, No. 1971, 02E1527) revealed similar features, which, according to Ms Phelan, are probably part of the same prehistoric complex. Testing in the same area was also conducted by Fintan Walsh (Excavations 2003, No. 1969, 02E1527).
The excavation took place on 17–20 June 2003. During the initial clean-back several features of archaeological importance were investigated. Flint fragments were recovered from a ditch and a pit. Another pit was half-sectioned and photographed. Fragments of prehistoric pottery were also located on the ground surface.
Following a dispute with the contractor and Wicklow County Council, excavation at the site was suspended on 20 June. The resolution of the disagreement resulted in the site being preserved in situ under a layer of terram.
Editor’s note: Though carried out in 2002, this summary was received too late for inclusion in the bulletin of that year.